For the skill fromEngage, seeGambit (Engage skill). For the skill fromHeroes, seeGambit (Heroes skill).

Gambits (Japanese:計略Stratagem) are a special kind of action introduced inFire Emblem: Three Houses. Tied to the use ofbattalions, they have a variety of uses, ranging from powerful attacks, enhancing the capabilities of multiple units, and various other effects. They have large areas of effect, and can affect multiple units in a single use. To compensate for their power, they have limiteduses per battle, and theirhit rates can fluctuate significantly, though the latter is tied to thecharm stat.

Overview

All gambits are categorized as one of the following: physical attacks, magical attacks, and supportive actions. Gambits have an area of effect (AoE), allowing them to damage, afflict, or aid multiple units at once; these areas extend out from whichever target is chosen. The shape and size of the AoE can vary significantly, with some being straight lines, some being radial, and some even being triangular. Offensive gambits will only affect enemy units, while support gambits will only affect allied units. All gambits additionally have a set number ofuses per battle, which are replenished at the end of each map.

Likeweapons, each gambit has its ownmight,hit, andrange stats. The damage dealt by an offensive gambit scales similarly to regular attacks, being boosted by the user'sstrength ormagic, and reduced by the target'sdefense orresistance. Thecharm stat additionally improves the power of gambits, though to a much smaller extent. The accuracy of a gambit, on the other hand, is handled much differently from weapon or spell accuracy. For accuracy, charm is the primary factor, with the difference between the user's and the target's deciding how accurate the attack is; if the user's charm is higher than their target's, the gambit will have a higher chance of succeeding. Gambits can never be counterattacked in any way, though gambits themselves can also never makefollow-up attacks or landcritical hits.

If a gambit hits its primary target, then all other opponents in the gambit's AoE will also be affected by it. If a gambit misses its primary target, however, then no units will be affected by it at all. Units that are affected by an offensive gambit will be afflicted with therattled status, limiting theirmovement to zero and preventing them from benefiting from battalions, or using a gambit themselves. Most offensive gambits also have a secondary effect, which can range from changingterrain, to moving the affected units' positions, to other various effects. Gambits can only kill their primary target; any other enemies within their AoE will be left at 1 HP if the attack would kill them otherwise.

A single gambit can only damage a givenmonster once, regardless of how many tiles of the same monster are within the AoE. The main target'sbarrier will be destroyed instantly, while other barriers within the AoE will be weakened, or destroyed if they have already been weakened. In addition, using a gambit on a monster will force the monster to target the gambit user instead of whoever they were targeting previously.

Calculations

Damage

Hit rate

Gambit Boost

See also:Linked Attack

If a unit uses a gambit while also fulfilling the conditions for a Linked Attack—that is, if there are other allied units that can attack the target from their currentrange—aGambit Boost will occur. Applied only for offensive gambits, Gambit Boosts increase both the power and hit rate of the used gambit. The potency of this increase is proportional to both how many allies are supporting the unit, as well as the unit'ssupport level with each of them.

Like a Linked Attack, a Gambit Boost will only factor in up to three supporting allies on the field along with anadjutant, for a total of four allies, prioritizing the adjutant and units higher in deployment order if more units could contribute. The maximum Gambit Boost values in a typical playthrough are +16 attack and +80 hit, if three supporting allies are in range, an adjutant is set, and the user has reached an A-rank support with all of them; withNew Game +,Byleth can unlock their S supports with multiple units, allowing for a maximum bonus of +20 attack and +100 hit.

Items and abilities affecting gambits

Items and abilities providing equipping bonus
	Item	Effect	Games
	Accuracy Ring	+10hit when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Authority	+2/+4/+6/+8/+10might when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Hit +20	+20hit when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Uncanny Blow	+30hit when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Officer Duty	+5might when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Confidence	+15hit when using gambits, if user'sHP = 100%.	Three Houses
	Lady Knight	+3might and +5hit when using gambits.	Three Houses
	Murderous Intent	+20hit when using gambits, if user initiates combat.	Three Houses
	Offensive Tactics	+5might and +20hit when using gambits.	Three Houses
	General	User takes 50% less damage from gambits.	Three Houses
	Commander	User takes 75% less damage from gambits.	Three Houses

Etymology and other languages

Gallery

• 
  A gambit,Assault Troop, being used against an enemySoldier inThree Houses.
• 
  Lorenz preparing to use a gambit against an enemy Soldier inThree Houses.
• 
  Dimitri preparing to use a gambit against an enemyExperimental Demonic Beast inThree Houses.
• 
  Claude receiving a Gambit Boost fromByleth,Lysithea, andMarianne inThree Houses.

References

See also

• Staggering Blow